Adventure Description

Just minutes away from Killington's famous slopes, Thundering Brook Falls cascades roughly 125 feet over jagged metamorphic rock. A visit to the falls can take as little as 20 minutes, but visitors often find themselves transfixed by the falling water. The falls is spectacular at any water level, but it can take on a special beauty in the winter when much of the cliff face is covered in ice and snow. Periods of warm weather or rain will also give visitors an insight into the origin of the falls' name.

To reach the falls, park in the small parking area and begin following the obvious boardwalk through the marsh. Despite the proximity to civilization, the center of the marsh can feel quite wild. It's a great place for birdwatching, and binoculars are recommended.

The boardwalk meanders through the marsh for 0.2 miles before entering the woods. Here the Appalachian Trail splits off to the left, marked by white blazes. The trail to the falls continues another 100 yards to the right, marked by blue blazes and ending in an observation deck over the falls.

From the deck, the lower two tiers of the falls are visible, dropping at roughly a 45 degree angle for a total of about 90 feet over slabs of Mount Holly Gneiss. In the winter the running water creates windows through the thick coating of snow that covers much of the falls that reveal the intricate folds and sharp edges of the bedrock beneath. Also visible is the privately owned micro hydroplant just downstream.

Most visitors will turn around here, especially in icy winter conditions. However, additional tiers of the falls can be seen by continuing up the hill adjacent to the observation deck, revealing a 35-foot waterfall and twin cascades upstream.

To return, retrace your steps back to the AT junction and along the boardwalk.